Photo via Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
The final #FridayNightRewind of 2017, brought to you by Tackle Tube USA, is an all-Texas edition, as the last state to settle its state championships did so starting on Wednesday and ending Saturday night.
The finals kicked off with 6-Man 1A D1, as Borden County topped Jonesboro 60-22.
History was subsequently made in 6-Man 1A D2, as Strawn notched a 78-42 victory over Balmorhea. Dan Gartland of SI.com reports Strawn's K-lani Nava kicked nine extra points while becoming the first female to play and score in a Texas state title game.
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY!#Strawn kicker K-Lani Nava becomes the first female to play in and score in a high school state championship game in the state of Texas! #UILonFOX pic.twitter.com/KQpNiH5rke
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) December 20, 2017
Four championships were decided on Thursday:
Rockdale's triumph included an emotional moment toward the end:
"Everybody in this community knows how special this moment is"
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) December 22, 2017
On the final play of the game coach Jeff Miller put in his son, Gunner Miller to handle the snap. Gunner was a player on #Rockdale before a bout with cancer forced him out.
This is bigger than football. #UILonFOX pic.twitter.com/V2OCgTd9R0
Three titles were claimed on Friday:
4A D1: Carthage 49, Kennedale 21
4A D2: Pleasant Grove 41, West Orange-Stark 21
5A D1: Highland Park 53, Manvel 49
Clint Buckley of the East Texas Sports Network reports Carthage's victory delivered the program's sixth state championship since 2008. Quarterback Gunner Capps threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns, receiver Mekhi Colbert set a Class 4A title game record with 191 receiving yards on eight catches, and running back and Texas commit Keaontay Ingram had 163 yards and three TDs on 15 carries, including this gem:
"He's gone! Say goodnight to him. @keaontay_ingram 65 yards!" - @craigway1
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) December 22, 2017
Carthage can't be stopped#UILonFOX | #TXHSFB | #UILState pic.twitter.com/yNttWZ1ikH
Mitch Stephens of MaxPreps says John Stephen Jones - grandson of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones - threw for a state finals record 564 yards, along with five total touchdowns, in Highland Park's victory, clinched on a 16-yard TD to wideout Cade Saustad with 34 seconds left. Saustad had a record 220 receiving yards, as did Manvel wideout and Texas A&M commit Jalen Preston. The teams combined for 1,301 yards.
"He competes, and he's magic" - @Scotsathletics HC on John Stephen Jones #TXHSFB #UILState #UILonFOX #HighlandParkvsManvel pic.twitter.com/MSocLIiX5A
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) December 23, 2017
That left three games on Saturday:
5A D2: College Station 20, Aledo 19
6A D1: Allen 35, Lake Travis 33
Fans got the type of game they came to see as MaxPreps national No. 4 Allen topped No. 12 Lake Travis. Michael Flores of Sports Day HS reports Lake Travis took a third quarter lead after falling behind 21-0, but Allen won its fifth state title thanks in part to 176 yards from running back and offensive MVP Brock Sturges, and a key stop on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
"DO YOUR JOB! DO YOUR JOB!"
— SportsDayHS (@SportsDayHS) December 24, 2017
Relive the @alleneagles' 5th state title, from the pregame locker room speech to the wild celebration!
📸: @DougStjernholm #txhsfb #UILState pic.twitter.com/gH3N6oOEFA